Taking a break, what do you guys do

Hi I've been fasting for 5 years now. Went from 212 pounds to a strong and steady 185 pounds in about 1 year when I started. Now my weight moves from 182 to 189 depending on training/feeding. I consider myself very disciplined and expert in the 16/8 fasting, I know exactly what to do and how to control it and ya... Pretty routine after 5 years. My colleagues, gf, family, often ask me to "slack". One extra meal won't kill you! Who cares if you eat chips at 11pm in front of a movie with me! Let's go eat breakfast tomorow one time won't kill you! I wonder, does anyone here "cycles" the fasting days? For example, do you guys fast 5 days a week and eat normally the weekend. Is there any benefits? I wonder if your body gets used to fasting and taking a break would shock my body or something

Answer

Not for IF. If I was doing IF I would stick to it “one day won’t kill you” mentality is fine from person saying perspective but if 20 people say that then one day becomes 20 day in no time.

If it’s birthday or some special occasion like charismas yeah fasting goes out of a window. But random “lets go for breakfast” is a now. I am happy to go for breakfast eat what you want my friend I will have a coffee, it shouldn’t stop you from eating.

So yes I will sit with family in the evening on my Alternate Fasting Day and they will have tea and biscuits and I will only have tea I have no problem with that.

Answer

I believe there is some benefit to having a day of normal eating to keep your metabolism on its toes as it were. Pretty sure I came across this through a Tim Ferriss podcast or on this Andrew Huberman one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tRohh0gErM.

See what works out for you. I don’t necessarily fast for weight loss but more for cognitive benefits and I find shaking it up once or even twice a week works well while avoiding the urge to go back to the usual 3 meals/day full time.